As cases of the novel coronavirus increase nationwide, scientists and researchers are working day and night to develop a vaccine or possible cure, but they aren’t the only ones. While most young teens are dreading online classes and spending a lot of time on social media, one Texas eighth grader has been working on developing a possible cure for COVID-19. You read that right, a 14-year-old who hasn’t even graduated from middle school just won an award of $25,000 for research related to a potential cure for COVID-19.
Indian American Anika Chebrolu, from Frisco, Texas, won the prestigious 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her efforts to develop a novel antiviral drug as a cure for the coronavirus pandemic. According to the 3M Young Scientist Challenge website, Chebrolu did this by using an in-silico methodology to develop a lead molecule that selectively binds to the Spike protein on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The challenge created by 3M in partnership with Discovery Communications aspires to create a new generation of problem-solvers by encouraging students in grades 5-8 to share their discoveries.
